Nameless (Nameless #1)(42)

“Sir, I’ll be fine.”

His commander raised a hand to silence him. “Your actions prove you don’t always consider the needs of the mess before your own.”

The words stung.

“You’re selfish, Striker. You might be the best at what you do, but I can’t fully trust you.” Zander frowned and walked away. “Three days,” he called over his shoulder.

All Gryphon could do was watch his captain leave, knowing he’d deserved those harsh words. What would Zander think of him if he knew the extent of his betrayal? Had Gryphon forgotten his brothers? Did his mercy make him weak?

Joshua’s voice startled him. “Where’s Zo?”

Gryphon slammed his palm into the doorframe. “Don’t you have training?” he yelled. “Stop thinking about that girl and go help your clan.” He pushed Joshua out the door with a little more force than necessary. Joshua didn’t look back as he sprinted down the road.

Gryphon slammed the door to his room and fell into bed with a groan. A hollow ache gripped his insides. Relentless churning that wouldn’t subside. How had he allowed this to happen? In only a few short weeks he’d gone from making Striker to betraying his entire clan. How could he make this right?





Chapter 21





Zo awoke to find Joshua’s extra large smile hovering over her.

“Who’s Tess?” the boy asked. Zo found herself holding Joshua’s hand. She didn’t remember grabbing it.

“She’s my little sister.” Zo rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

Joshua frowned. “You have a sister?”

Zo had mentioned Tess in the Waiting Room. Joshua must have been too delirious at the time to remember.

“Do you miss her? Is she with your parents?”

I hope not. Zo cringed, thinking of the subtle mounds of dirt that marked her parents graves. Images replayed in her mind: dark clouds blocking the cold sun, faces twisted in mourning, wind blowing the few flowers away, the sound of the half-frozen dirt covering their bodies. All buried and left with the rest who couldn’t follow the pack to a new home.

“She’s alone. I’m worried for her. Wait—how do you know about Tess?”

“You talk when you sleep.”

“Oh.” Zo hoped she hadn’t said too much. She still wasn’t sure what to do about her little sister. The worry was constant and gut-wrenching. Her sister. Alone. “Maybe you shouldn’t mention her to Gryphon.”

“Why not?” Joshua yawned the words. “Wait. She’s not here, is she?”

The door of the Nameless quarters squeaked open, and Joshua ducked behind the bed. An old man carrying a bucket and shovel limped into the large room. Joshua straightened with a sheepish grin playing about his lips.

“What was that about?” said Zo, while nodding to a Nameless slave in Gryphon’s household.

“Ah, nothing. I should go.” Joshua bent down, kissed Zo’s cheek, and ran out the door. Zo touched her hand to her cheek. She’d seen countless Ram exchange a similar kiss at parting, but never with a Nameless.

“That was interesting.” The old Nameless man shook Zo’s hand and smiled through a mouth only half full of teeth. “I’ve heard a lot about you, healer. Which for a Nameless, is not a good thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Nameless talk when taskmasters aren’t watching. You, child, need to learn to keep your head down.” The old man gave her a look that said far more than words could. She hadn’t considered the possibility that the Nameless rebels weren’t limited to the brave circle in the Nameless Nest. How many were there? Trusting a handful of people to keep her secret was one thing, but the vast Nameless population?

Zo’s empty stomach soured. I need to get Tess out of here!





Gryphon came with a plate of food and Zo’s kit around dusk. He noticed her wince as she sat up.

“Are you hungry?” Gryphon set the food next to her bed on the floor and pulled up a three-legged stool. He kept his injured leg stretched out to the side. Zo held a thin blanket to her chest. She brushed a clump of dark hair from her face, revealing piercing blue eyes.

“Eat.” He nudged the plate toward her.

When she didn’t take the food he shrugged and reached in his pack for a knife and block of wood. The girl was on her feet and across the room before he realized the problem.

He raised an eyebrow then looked down at the knife in his hand. “You still don’t trust me?” He smiled sadly and shook his head. “You and everyone else.” He pushed his knife into the block of wood with slow, practiced strokes.

Zo stayed against the wall clutching her stomach where her shirt had been cut away. Gryphon kept his eyes on his work, only sparing a glance when she slowly crept back to her bed.

She pulled the covers up to her chest again. “What do you want with me?”

Gryphon felt the color rise in his cheeks. Of course she would think he wanted her for his own devices. “To be honest, I want nothing to do with you. You’ve caused me a great deal of trouble.”

“Then why keep me here?” she asked. “Why feed me?”

Gryphon stroked the wood, cutting deep into the middle of the block to form the neck of the animal. “I keep my promises,” he mumbled.